A book is in the library, and a library is in the book.

Building of Spines happens over seven days in a library, where a book is researched, written, edited, printed, and bound by hand. 

The book’s narrative is shaped by answers people in the library give to a set of questions.

Each day, the questions change, shifting every morning and afternoon through the Dewey Decimal System—from 900: History and Geography to 000: Computer Science and General Works.

Individual accounts are woven into a collective fiction, creating invisible connections between people who may never speak but happen to occupy the same library on the same day. The story is often banal, contradictory, heartbreaking, funny, and life affirming – all of it true and not true at the same time.

One book is made per location and, on the final day, handed over to the library to be entered into their collection. 

Building of Spines invites reflection on personal histories, the knowledge we value (and share), and how we spend our time—while asking what makes a good book, why we gather in libraries, and who decides which stories we read.

So far there is a Building of spines in:

• Manchester Central library
• Leeds Central Library
• Haydock Library, St Helens
• Art House Middleton (Alt version, 700: Arts & Recreation category only)
• Longsight Library, Manchester
• Chester Storyhouse
• Gateshead Central Library 
• Stockton-on-Tees Central Library 
• Oldham Central Library. 

Soon to be in Chemnitz Central Library, Germany –  Nov 2025. 

Developed & presented with Quarantine & Manchester City Libraries.